The fastest pop songs arrive like a notification. Ben Lester’s self-titled debut does something more interesting: it lets the listener wait for the message to finish forming. Across 13 tracks for Mayfield Records, the London singer, songwriter, performer and producer turns patience into part of the pleasure. The result is indie pop with an arranger’s discipline, a record built for people who like a chorus but...

Listening to HJ Soul’s new single "Unbreakable" is a bit like realizing you've been holding your breath for a decade and finally deciding to exhale. https://open.spotify.com/track/0z65wJzSjVNGOL88e2LvvA?si=eb5fcaf7ec184efe It begins with undeniable intimacy. Lush, warm, jazzy chord progressions roll through the room with a slow, expressive cadence resembling one of those quiet late-night conversations where you actually start telling the truth. The uprising RnB singer-songwriter has plunged straight...